No "Shame on Me"

Well all things aren’t bad. From the following link it looks like the Dems will not get the magic 60 vote majority to shut of filibusters.
-----link-----
http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/chambliss_obama_georgia/2008/11/09/149440.html?s=al&promo_code=70D7-1
---------------
As the article implies, that magic 60 is reachable with some Republicans changing their vote but it will be that much harder to do if Chambliss can win.

Now that the election is over Sarah Palin is still in the spotlight. We may have a chance to see a national leader in the making. Now that she should be free of the restraints of running 2nd fiddle. Free of the “Handlers” everyone blames all wrongs on. Now is her chance to prove to our conservative leaders such as Peggy Noonan whom I do admire and respect that she (Sarah) is not a flash in the pan and up to the task of being a hardnosed conservative and not just a one line spoutterer of vulgarities.
-----link-----
http://www.peggynoonan.com/article.php?article=438
---------------
Or to quote the article
-----quote-----
In the end the Palin candidacy is a symptom and expression of a new vulgarization in American politics. It’s no good, not for conservatism and not for the country. And yes, it is a mark against John McCain, against his judgment and idealism.
----------------
I still will give Sarah Palin the benefit of the doubt. As someone thrust upon the stage as a VP candidate, her vulgarisms I can overlook as part of the stage setting and a learning process. Perhaps an instinctual self defense mechanism that has served her well. But it will be what she does from here on out which will tell the tale whether she can mature into the limelight or fade from it.

Another of the good things I see is that as someone who has been knocked down, the Republican party seems to be picking itself up and learning from the expensive lesson it has had.

The new media Right Roots of this age are gearing up for change, are coming up with ideas galore, and best yet proposing some concrete actions using the new found technology they were born into. Below is one example of what I mean.
-----link-----
http://www.rebuildtheparty.com/index.php?signup=yes
----------------
This sounds good, it is up to each and everyone of us to ask ourselves what can we do to help turn this thing of our around. Not in philosophical terms, but in concrete terms.

Time of course will tell if we can come up with a new image that enough of us can really get behind and bury some of our ever present squabbles over rhetoric and get into the actual work of winning some elections.

On the national level we see leadership change in the making. Same at the state level. I see some babies being thrown out with the bath water. That is just the cost of being the leader. The buck stops here and during loss, that buck ruts around a lot before it moves on.

What I see as good is that there is a chance to remake our party into a more conservative party. I for one am backing Jack Hoogendyk for State Party Chair. Below is an email he sent out to all. I got it off his web site.
-----Jack-----
http://www.jackformichigan.org/core/2008/11/10/jack-for-state-party-chairman.html
----------------

Well, I used one tissue to dry my eyes, and after this humiliating defeat, I have vowed I won’t be fooled again. They have had their “trick me once” election, I’ll be damned if I’ll say “shame on me” the next time.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

My Mistake

My previous post was about the left’s intimidation practices. The picture and story I chose to highlight the situation has turned out to be fraudulent, the tactics of intimidation by the left however have not.
-----link-----
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9411R800&show_article=1
--------------
Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

She Lives Dangerously

This lady lived up to the title of my blog "Live Dangerously Be A Conservative".
This was the type of thing that prompted me to title my blog as such, in the first place. I realized when I started that as in the past it was the liberal activists who were getting beaten and worse for standing up to their convictions, now it was the Conservatives who needed that extra measure of guts and courage to simply state their views.

I still don't have time to write much as crunch time is here but I have another thought we all should ponder. A question I ask myself everyday, "What Can I Do Today?"

In Michigan to take it back, I have 365 days X 2 years to ask that question of myself to find something anything to do to make that happen. And in the Nation I have 365 days times 4 years to ask that same question and find that many more opportunities to be a part of changing things.

After this election, either way I will be asking that of myself. That girl did and found herself volunteering for a political campaign. She paid the price for her decision, she found some truth. Am I not as capable as she? I have 365 times X opportunities to find out.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative.

PS I've been in the Muskegon GOP headquarters at least 5 days a week 5 hours each day and have heard litteraly hundreds of stories of signs being stolen, and other acts of vandalism just in my city. This is mainly McCain Palin stuff not all the other candidates signs. I've given out over 1600 McCain Palin signs and I see very few of them, compared to the other candidates signs I've put out. Anyway here below is another national glimpse of the intimidation that is going on and which I think will change some votes within the privacy and safty of the voting booth. That safe place where everyone can Live Dangerously and state their views.
-----link-----
http://www.local6.com/politics/17784129/detail.html
--------------

Help Jack Take Our Michigan Back

Link to Jack’s blog, Core Principles.
-----link-----
http://www.jackformichigan.org/core--------------

New Blood is thriving in St Paul.
Jack Hoogendyk Running hard to try to unseat Carl Levin. Is making some positive waves in St. Paul. Nice to see this from the Republicans. BTW if ever there was someone who represented the same old same old it is Carl Levin. He has always been in the forefront of pushing the liberal policies that have made Michigan a laughing stock.

Help Jack

Take Our Michigan Back


Hoogendyk Calls for Blood Drive at Republican Convention
Michigan Delegates Pledge to Give Blood for Hurricane Victims 


Minneapolis, MN - Michigan State Representative Jack Hoogendyk announced that the Michigan delegation to the Republican National Convention would be participating in a blood drive on Tuesday, which he initiated to provide relief for potential victims of Hurricane Gustav. Hoogendyk, the Republican Party's candidate to unseat US Senator Carl Levin, made the announcement at the Michigan delegation's breakfast and then circulated the room with a clipboard collecting pledges for blood donations.
 
The local Red Cross has named the effort the "Michigan Republican Party Gulf Relief Blood Drive." The Red Cross plans to send a blood drive bus to the Northland Inn, where the Michigan delegation is staying. Hoogendyk is calling for blood donations from residents across the state of Michigan, as well as from other delegates to the Convention.
 
"Everyone here in Minnesota at the Convention is watching the events in the Gulf closely. We see it as an opportunity to mobilize Republicans from all around the country to help their fellow citizens who are suffering from the effects of Hurricane Gustav," says Hoogendyk.  "We're all going to roll up our sleeves and give blood to send to those in need in the Gulf Coast area."
 
The blood drive will be taking place at the Northland Inn Hotel on Tuesday, September 2 from 10 am to 4 pm. A large turnout is expected.
 
=======================================================

Just a thought. Wonder who the first Democrat will be that says it’s all Bush’s fault. Now that would be a constructive thing to say. That is a policy to get behind. That is the SAME OLD SAME OLD.

Also Right Michigan our own West Michigan Blog (the best Republican blog for Michigan politics) is giving live coverage from St. Paul. Nick has all the credentials to get anywhere. Here is a part with Jack in it.
------link-----
http://www.rightmichigan.com/story/2008/9/1/111434/6174
----------------
Scroll down and the fourth picture is Jack at the Podium. Under the picture Nick in is customary in depth manner helps explain how the above press Release came about. I give Jack a “Bottom Up” award for putting people first then Making Do, Making it Now and Getting It Done. I could get used to Leaders that lead and not like the ones we have that have to wait for polling before doing anything.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

PS The owners of Toast N Jams and I are in the planning stages for a Help Jack Take Michigan Back Fundraiser. I’ll keep you posted. Our state can’t take any more liberal experiments.

If Jack needs help "Clearing the Road" I know just the Person.

Let Nick do the Work

I've been too busy to blog much lately. I really don't know how Nick at Right Michigan does it.

I must take the time however to tip my hat to him. He is in St.Paul right now and has press passes to everything.
-----link-----
http://www.rightmichigan.com/
--------------
He is even video blogging some. He is blogging interviews from the convention. Our own little piece of the blogosphere is doing us proud. I've set up a convention watch party and what with the Gustav Hurricane, and John McCain saying they will do what is necessary to help including shutting down the convention, I am up in the air about the party.

After reading Nick's take on it, I picked up some perspective on it. Don't you dare go national on us Nick. We'd miss you too much. lol.

Regards,Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

Our Strength, The Sum of the Parts

Our Strength. The Sum of the Parts

I think that it has become apparent over the last couple of years that the American people have come to the conclusion that we need Change. In 2006 the leadership and control of Congress has changed hands, the People voted to “Throw the Bums Out”. With the advent of a Pelosi and Reid led Congress it has also become apparent to the People that the Democrats have neither the ideas nor the leaders to bring about Actual Change. They have had their chance and not pulled it off.

The American People are neither stupid nor memory deficient. They know a good common sense idea when they see it. The point I want to make here is that the ideas, the concrete plan the leader or the party has is as important as their leadership. They are two different things. The synergy between them is what creates and defines great leadership. While Obama and Reagan gave uplifting speeches, Reagan had a concrete plan of action and his speeches were a means to that end. To gin up support not just for him but for his programs. When he gave a speech about cutting taxes for example he would state the case how his specific plan for cutting taxes would lead us to the uplifting vision he had for America. So far Obama has offered a pretty vague vision. Not backing it up with the concrete actions we need to take to accomplish it. That will probably work for him if McCain doesn’t offer an alternative. Lately however, McCain’s true strength has been popping out all over. He is defining what he represents, his plan of attack, and it is centered around Change. It is centered around the things that Obama only talks about. Government corruption. Earmarks. All of the perceived and corrupt things in Government. Anti Bigger Government. The speech announcing Governor Palin just brought out the difference between talking and doing something to effect change. About picking a Washington inside tough guy vs. an Outsider. Picking a status quo VP. representing the old Democrats vs. picking an “out of the box” person representing the New Republicans. A "Make Do, Make It Now, Make It Work" kind of Republican.
-----link-----
http://www.breitbart.tv/html/163813.html
--------------

Getting back to my idea of this being a classic “what not to do” election cycle for the Liberals. They have accomplished next to nothing with Congress in two years. The Democrats point to Bush and the Republicans as the reason for their inability to do nothing. It has become apparent to the People however that they just don’t know what to do to lead other than point fingers. The “Classic” part comes when they try to defend themselves by attacking Bush claiming that he has historic low poll numbers They seem to think the American People are ignorant of the fact that the Congress has even lower poll numbers. They are their own worst enemy. They are the majority they are the ones stopping the President from enacting his legislation. They are the ones who can’t come up with their own and push it through. Then they show for the world to see Bush’s poll numbers. What’s that about the pot calling the kettle black, or when you point your finger at someone else, three are pointing back at you.



This election is becoming a beautiful thing. A classic study in the difference between the two parties. Change is offered by both parties. One party talks of Change as some wonderful all encompassing mystical thing that will cure all our problems. We have seen for two years what that “Revival Tent” rhetoric without direction or leadership leads to. --- A “Do Nothing Congress” that at best tries to blame everything and everyone else for it’s short comings: or at worst, as we are finding out, will if given full reign pull this country apart.

Time after time in the last two years, when solutions to problems have been offered, Congress has showed it’s inability to do anything. The whole Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less effort highlighted the problem the Democrats have. They clamor for change but when it’s offered they pull it apart and say that it won’t work because it’s not theirs. It’s not big enough. It doesn’t solve all our problems. They fail however to put their own plan out there that would actually solve any problems. It is becoming clear what the effects of their lack of action and their blocking of action lead to. Their altruistic efforts have stopped any efforts to create any new answers. Prices are still rising , education is still crumbling, the economy is still crippled. You want a picture of failed Democratic policies. Look to Detroit and to Michigan. People can see this. They aren’t blind.

I’m glad they keep shooting themselves in the foot. The Republicans offer change and they ridicule it as not big enough, yet offer no alternative. When Pelosi shut down the US HOUSE and a committee because she was afraid of having a vote on the issue of energy the people knew what was happening. The Republicans have started to get some backbone and are keeping the issue alive.

McCain by picking Palin has set the Democrat leadership and Obama on it’s ear. This choice of Palin has put the Dems in a Catch-22 position. I am overjoyed by this. We truly have a conservative ticket. Palin highlights McCains conservative strong points. Together they show a unified front. They both have in the past proven they will reach across party lines. Something Obama hasn’t. Together they are larger than the sum of their parts. They have the ability to frame the debate by putting out the real issues and making them stick in the minds of the people by offering from experience a specific plan that can work.

In the Bloggospere the first retorts by the libs to tear her down were the exact things Obama has been hiding from. Lack of experience lack of foreign affairs knowledge. In fact Palin has more of both than Obama. I even heard that they’re saying in a bad way that her husband and a son are not registered Republicans. So much for their argument that the Republicans can’t reach across the isle.

I think you will see the attack on Palin soon steer away from the experience thing. Obama can’t take any more of the scrutiny and is just left with empty rhetoric. The people if allowed to choose will soon see and vote accordingly.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative

What Can We Do Today ??

Getting it Done.

Every one is familiar with the light bulb and that it signifies a bright new idea. Like turning on the light in a darkened place, it adds perspective to how we see the world. Once that idea is accepted progress can be made more easily.

What I post today is about one of those light bulb ideas. Gee I’ve got a bright idea what about the light bulb and Edison. (I couldn’t resist forgive me).

I imagine that there were hundreds of thousands of people that wished at night that they had more light. Probably hundreds of people worked at doing something about it. Better kerosene then gas lamps etc. Probably fifty or so thought that electricity that mysterious force coming into vogue could somehow be used to create light. After all lightning would light up the sky, why not a little lightning to light up a room.

From there I’m sure that some few came up with the idea of a filament that would only partially short out the circuit and not create a spark but still heat up the wire enough to create light. After that it was only Edison that tried hundreds of different filaments until he found one that worked.

The conclusion I’ve drawn from this is that Edison was not looking for a solution that was perfect in every way, a solution that would solve all our energy needs. He simply wanted something that would work. Well he found it and it worked well for a long time. There were countless improvements along the way also.

The incandescent light bulb we use today has evolved into a more energy efficient and cost effective product. The point is that Edison’s first light bulb wasn’t discarded because it wasn’t the perfect solution. We accepted the inferior solution then let the market place keep coming out with better solutions. As technology grows in part as a result of this competition, better and better products keep emerging, until someone else comes up with a better “light bulb” idea.

I see the example above as a microcosm of how the two parties approach problems and the solutions they offer.

Republicans offer more concrete specific solutions to the problem. They might only be partial solutions but a step in the right direction. Republicans seem to intuitively know that the act of solving part of the problem leads us to better understand the problem and allows us to come up with better solutions than we could come up with if we waited till a perfect solution was found. We gain insight into the problem by diving in and trying to actually make a solution work. I am of the idea that there are really no perfect solutions due to the fact that we are not a perfect people. Looking for perfection only tends to burn out that which is within us that wants to fix things and make things better. If that dies we soon become cynical and perhaps bitter in the effort.

I believe that if one can accept that a perfect solution does not exist then we will be more content by striving to do what we think will help and be happy with the effort. As with Edison a workable solution is found then later better ones come along and all the benefits along the way are utilized and people feel confident by the steady progress. It is precisely that confidence I am saying is what makes the whole thing work.

Without that as we are seeing today things get bogged down, the idea that only big anything from big business to big government has the ability to find that perfect solution. This is robbing the citizens of that feeling of self worth found in feeling that they are part of the solution. That they have added their two cents. That they are indeed invested in the society.

As with the energy problem we face. Let’s start doing all we can in every direction from all sorts of places to find partial solutions. One small success will build and be the rallying cry to win the next, and on and on. Confidence will build. We only need to be able to accept that there will be missteps then do what we can to quickly abandon wrong approaches and adapt to what is available. Soon enough we will be coming up with newer technologies to overcome more parts of the problem, putting thousands to work while we correct these imperfect solutions. I see something noble in this vs. paying people to do nothing, or charging them to do nothing.

Peter F. Drucker wrote the following in his book, “The Effective Executive”. “Effective Executives lead from strength in their own work. They make productive what they can do. ………. Effective executives are of course also concerned with limitations. But it is amazing how many things they find that can be done and are worth doing. While the others complain about threir inability to do anything, the effective executives go ahead and do. As a result, the limitations that weigh so heabily on their brethren often melt away”

This ties into my “What Can I Do Today” philosophy. It is surprising me what I am doing with that simple idea. If we as a country can only start to dwell on not what is wrong but what is right, on what we are good at and not what we are not. This country will prosper and you and I will not only feel better about it, but ourselves too.

Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative